Friday, January 30, 2009

It's Time to Hit the Slopes

There's a saying here in Utah that we have the "Greatest Snow on Earth"...and the hills of the Wasatch Mountains are filled to the brim...so it's time to get out the skis and snowboards and head out to one of the seven world-class ski resorts within 45 minutes of the campus!

Park City Mountain, The Canyons, Deer Valley, Snowbird, Alta, Brighton, Solitude...all great places...here is a Very brief guide...





















Park City
is the host of three great parks...Check them out!
Park City Mountain
The Canyons
Deer Valley


Little Cottonwood Canyon hosts two great places...Check them out!
Alta
Snowbird

Big Cottonwood Canyon has two great resorts...Check them out!
Solitude
Brighton

What do you like to do...?





If you like to ski...? head to Alta or Deer Valley (skiers only)
If you like to snowboard with half-pipes and rails...? head to Park City or Brighton
Want fantastic powder...? Alta and Deer Vally have great groomed runs
Want a huge mountain...? Park City has tons of options...or get the Alta/Snowbird two-mountain pass!
Want a steep mountain with rugged terrain...? Snowbird has it...
On a tight budget...? Try the Canyons....great student rates
Want something different...? Try the Friday night skiing at Brighton...

We'll see you out on the slopes!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Follow The Utes on Twitter


"What are you doing?"

That is always a great question to ask of a friend...there is a new way to find out what your friends are up to...and it's called Twitter! The Ute Soccer team has started to Twitter...and you can now follow along to know what we are up to...

Here's how it works...you click on www.twitter.com ...you sign up for a free account...this allows you to update folks...and you can follow along with your friends...including us! Once you sign up, just search for Utesoccer

You can follow on your twitter account, your desktop (through instant messaging) or through your mobile phone! COME JOIN US!

Friday, January 23, 2009

Becoming Faster, Stronger and a Better Player

Christmas is over and the Utes are back on the field and in the strength room. This time of year, the NCAA rules only allow 2 hours per week with the ball and 6 hours without the ball. So it is kind of a "down time" until we start training again in mid-February.

However, this is also an important time to do some of the hard work that can help improve one's game and athletic ability. We spend 3 days each week on conditioning...endurance, recovery as well as speed training.

We also work out 2 times each week the Coach Greg Argust, one of Utah's strength and conditioning gurus...Coach does a great job of getting the most out of each player with great energy and enthusiasm...unlike most colleges in the weight room, we try not to get too much into power....we don't want bulky and muscle-bound players. Our focus is on strength, flexibility, injury prevention and quickness...Check out a couple of clips from this morning's work out. Notice that we don't use big weights...just body-weight and bands for the most part....and the exercises are geared toward doing something over and over again quickly....just like in the game of soccer! Check it out!



Notice that our injured players also take part...in the second video, you will see Katie Martinez jumping over the bench...Katie is just coming back from a procedure to relieve pressure from compartment syndrome (lower legs)... You will also see Emalee Rogers hopping on one leg...Emalee suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle over the holidays...Both are coming along fine..along with our other wounded (Jen Christoffers, Erin Dalley, Anne Shallenberger, Hannah Turpen)... It is important that injured players do as much as possible to help in their rehab as well as maintain some sort of fitness level until they are fully cleared.

Of course, this is not the most exciting thing...to do or to watch...However it is VERY important work and we are proud of our team's conditioning program and results...

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Sundance Fever Hits Salt Lake City


The Sundance Film Festival is here! From January 15-25, the hottest new films with the hottest new (and familiar) stars and directors are converging in Salt Lake City (and Park City) to show their latest movies. It is a HOT ticket each year and this year is no different...

Want to know what films might be up for Academy Awards next year...just pay attention to the Sundance Film Festival. Don't believe us? Check out this list of all-time greats shown at Sundance: How about..."Falcon and the Snowman" (early Sean Penn great)..."Hannah and Her Sisters" (Woody Allen Oscar-winner)..."River's Edge"...."Hoosiers"..."Sex, lies and videotape"..."Reservoir Dogs" (Quentin Tarantino at his most demented), "Four Weddings and a Funeral"..."Shine"..."The Blair Witch Project"..."Napoleon Dynamite"..."Little Miss Sunshine"....

And how about these epic documentaries that have been shown at Sundance..."Roger and Me" (Michael Moore's first), "Super Size Me" (watch this and you'll never go to MacDonald's again)..."March of the Penguins"..."An Inconvenient Truth"...."Man on Wire" (from Sundance 2008...definitely rent this!)...

Well, we invite you to check out all the action at the Official Sundance Web Site...by clicking here.


So, new movies and great art of wonderful and all that...but we Americans love our celebrities and gossip...Who has been seen in town this week? Here is a short list...Robin Williams, Jim Carey, Chris Rock, Nia Long, Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Ewan McGregor, Spike Lee, Jeff Daniels, Amy Poehler, Don Cheadle, Wesley Snipes, Kevin Spacey, Paris Hilton, Uma Thurman....the list goes on and on...However we can't forget to mention Robert Redford...the "Godfather" of the film festival....and, of course, we can always play 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon here as well....(Here is Kevin with his wife and one of our favorites, Kyra Sedgwick from "The Closer")

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Utes Take Part In Inauguration Day Both in D.C. and At Home

Tuesday was a huge day for the good old U.S.A. as Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President in Washington D.C. Did you see any of the events?

Well, the University of Utah marching band was there, playing for the new Prez and thousands of others at the Inauguration Day Parade.

Click here for more details provided by the Utah Daily Chronicle, the school newspaper. Good Job Marching Utes!





Back home in Salt Lake City, a crowd of 2,000 watched with enthusiasm on a big screen TV inside of Kingsbury Hall on campus. There was lots of cheering as Obama was sworn in....and after the Inauguration, there was a panel discussion conducted by the Hinckley Institute of Politics...for more details, click here!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Time for Renewal on Historic Day

The Utes will be training this morning and starting the day with some good hard work. But today is an historic occasion, with the swearing in of Barack Obama. And it's a great time to examine ourselves and find ways to make a positive change. We will be getting out into the community this winter and spring to connect with people in Salt Lake City, especially the young people.





Yesterday, on the occasion of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, over 230 students marched at the U's campus to commemorate the ideas and events of Dr. King's life...and to call for action to continue to work toward a better America....

You can read more about the event by clicking here!











With today's inauguration, we invite you to follow along....

CNN is always a great place to keep track of events...click here!

Also, try Barack Obama's web site as well...click here!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Kelly and Katy earn West Region honors

We strive for team goals and team excellence on and off the field...however, it's also nice to relay individual accomplishments and honors when they occur...

After an outstanding season, junior midfielder Kelly Isleib, was named to the 3rd Team all-West Region. Comprised of over 45 teams, including some of the best programs in the country...the soccer in the West is incredibly competitive and Kelly's recognition is a testament to her hard work and talent...

Congratulations...to see a list of the all-West team...click here!






Senior midfielder, Katy Reineke, was also honored by being named to the all-West Scholar-Athlete 1st Team. Katy had an excellent season and will graduate in May with a degree in Economics.



Click here for a listing of the all-West Scholar Athlete team









For a mored detailed announcement, click here!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Utes Training at Beautiful Eccles Indoor Facility

Winter workouts start up this week with the new semester. The team will be playing and training in the beautiful Spence Eccles Field House....with a full-sized field. Check out the photo gallery by clicking here!






This time of year is dedicated to maintaining conditioning, improving athleticism, and working on the skills of soccer. The team is a bit "small" right now as last fall's seniors have finished their eligibility and won't be training with us. January workouts are limited by NCAA rules to 8 hours per week, with 2 hours spent with the ball and the other 6 spent on speed training, injury prevention and conditioning. The team will begin "spring training" in mid-February and will have games in March and April.

More news about the team to follow...

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Back to School in the Fittest City in the U.S.!!

Well, the holidays are (sadly) over...
School started on Monday with a buzz about the football team's great performance. We are in the midst of basketball season for men and women, along with gymnastics, skiing and more! The soccer players got back into the swing of things with an hour of soccer and some strength training this morning. We have lots planned for this semester as we try and build off of our 2nd place finish in the Mountain West Conference last fall. We'll be training, playing games, doing clinics and participating in community events. Stay tuned right here for the latest and greatest from the Utes.

We ran into an interesting story in the USA Today newspaper this morning... Men's Fitness magazine has recognized Salt Lake City as the Fittest City in the U.S. The magazine gave the "SLC" high ratings for lower obesity rates, many athletically motivated residents, low TV viewing and and abundance of parks and fitness centers...a couple of other tidbits...29% of SLC residents exercise regularly with dumbbells and over 32% regularly run or jog!

For more on the survey, click here!

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Behind the scenes at the Sugar Bowl

WOW!  It is always fun to win but there is something extraordinary about dominating when no one thinks you have a chance.  
New Orleans was an experience.  The 7 day tailgate party in the 38 story Marriott full of Utah fans never slept.  The hotel was 2 blocks from the famous (or infamous depending on how you look at it) Bourbon Street in the French District of Downtown New Orleans.  The streets were packed with chants of "UTAH" and "Roll Tide" and the celebrating was done Big Easy style with beads and feather boas. Even I spent Thursday morning in a mask with red and black boas and a neck full of beads and a glittered Utes parasol dancing down Bourbon street with the other coach's wives throwing beads to the parade crowd.  (Those pictures have been hidden for safe keeping.) 
All in all the experience was everything we all love about sports.  A year of hard work and preparation culminating in a dominating victory and the best season in Utah Football history.  Watching the players enjoy such a rush motivated me to start the grueling morning practices this spring.  Who needs sleep when you can be 13-0!

Sunday, January 4, 2009

What would you endure to see your favorite team play?


























So, you're favorite team... one you are passionate about...is playing in the biggest game of the year and it's a 1,900 mile trip. You don't want to pay the air fare, so what do you do?
How about renting a mobile home or a bus?

Check out this article we found on SI.com about some Ute fans' travels...click here



Here is another article in the Salt Lake Tribune about the cost of travel and the creative ways Ute fans got around it...click here

Friday, January 2, 2009

Sugar Bowl Champs!

Well, here at Ute soccer, we are fans of all the sports here at the university. And tonight was a great night for the U as the football team capped an incredible season with a 31-17 victory over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

Here is a photo of Utah receiver, David Reed, scoring an important touchdown in the 3rd quarter...

The Utes finished with a 13-0 record with thrills and spills all along the way....

Special props to receivers coach Aaron Roderick, who is the husband of Utah soccer assistant Laurel Roderick for his part in the team's success!











We'll be covering more of the excitement with the team's success, including some reaction from the soccer players, who are thrilled for their friends on the team. For now, here are some links with more coverage of the game

Salt Lake Tribune newspaper
Deseret News newspaper
www.utahutes.com